PENNSBURY FALCON INVITATIONAL 2009 Congress Legislation ...tabroom-files.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/tourns/261/bills/… · Whereas: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline has exported

PENNSBURY FALCON INVITATIONAL

2009 Congress Legislation Packet

Preliminary Sessions The following Bills and Resolutions may be debated in the three preliminary sessions of Student Congress. The order of discussion will be determined by the participants in each chamber at the start of the Session 1. The Bills and Resolutions are listed here in alphabetical order by submitting school.

Pennsbury Falcon Invitational January 30-31, 2009 Preliminary Session Legislation

‐ Bill/Resolution #1 ‐

A Bill Concerning Relations With Zimbabwe

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Article I: The United States Federal Government shall send one thousand

(1,000) tons of food to the nation of Zimbabwe.

Article II: This food shall consist of fifty (50) pound bags of uncooked rice,

beans, flour, and cornmeal, and all the bags containing this aid shall

have printed on them in English, Shona, and Sindebele, “A gift from

the people of the United States of America.”

Article III: This plan shall be implemented on June 1st, 2009.

Article IV: The Department of State shall provide both the food and funds, the

Peace Corps shall be called upon to distribute the food, and the

Department of Defense shall be responsible for the creation of a

proportional response if any American personal are abused.

Article V: All laws in conflict with this plan are hereby declared null and void.

Respectfully submitted,

Dominion High School



A Resolution Concerning Somali Pirates

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Whereas: Pirates on the coast of Somalia are hijacking tanker ships that have

aid for the people of Somalia and military devices for Kenya bought

from Ukraine, and

Whereas: The United States does not need to intervene in this conflict, it is none

of our business Russia can handle this by themselves and;

Whereas: We are busy in Iraq and Afghanistan, the greatest navy on Earth does

not need to help it will cost thousands of dollars to pay for the fuel to

run our ships.

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States does not help destroy the

Somali Pirates and let Russia handle it.


Dominion High School



A Resolution Concerning Azerbaijan

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Whereas: The Republic of Azerbaijan is a member of the Organization for

Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe,

and the United Nations Human Rights Council, and

Whereas: Azerbaijan is an important strategic ally of the United States, serving

as a key source and transit route for the export of Caspian oil to

Western markets, and

Whereas: oil revenue has fueled the country's growth, and Azerbaijan's energy

resources remain a valuable prize, and

Whereas: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline has exported over 1 million barrels

per year of high-quality Caspian crude oil, and

Whereas: Shah Deniz II has natural-gas reserves estimated to at least equal the

9 billion cubic meters and is now sold at home and to Turkey and

Georgia, and

Whereas: Russian President Dimitri Medvedev arranged a meeting on November

2 with Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan in Moscow to seek a

resolution to the pipeline that carries Azeri oil from the Caspian region

through Georgia to Turkey's Mediterranean coast, and

Whereas: Russia and the U.S., acting with the Europeans, have stepped up their

attentions to this nation, and

Whereas: Azerbaijan wants to parlay the international interest into the

resolution of its conflict over the separatist region of Nagorno-

Karabakh, occupied by Armenia since the ethnically charged Nagorno-

Karabakh War ended in 1994,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States negotiates talks with the

country of Azerbaijan to deter alliances with Russia and take

measures to resolve the conflict in Azerbaijan over the separatist

region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and

Be it Further Resolved: That the United States convinces President Aliyev to

open up the Shah Deniz II oil reserves to our use and that we

promote peace within the region of Azerbaijan.


Gwynedd Mercy Academy



A Resolution to Establish Energy Cooperation with Israel

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Whereas: It is in the highest national security interests of the United States to

ensure secure access to reliable energy sources, and

Whereas: The United States relies heavily on the foreign supply of crude oil to

meet energy needs, and

Whereas: Revenues from the sale of oil by some of these countries directly or

indirectly provide funding for terrorism and propaganda hostile to the

values of the United States and the West, and

Whereas: In the past, these countries have manipulated the dependence of the

United States on the oil supplies of these countries to exert influence

on United States policy, and

Whereas: For economic and national security reasons, the United States should

reduce the dependence on nations that do not share our interests and

values, and

Whereas: The State of Israel has been a steadfast ally and a close friend of the

United States since its creation in 1948, and

Whereas: Israel is a democracy that holds civil rights and liberties in the highest

regard and is a proponent of the democratic values of peace, freedom,

and justice, and

Whereas: Israeli scientists and researchers have long been at the forefront of

research and development in the field of alternative renewable energy

sources, and

Whereas: Cooperation between the United States and Israel in the field of

research and development of alternative renewable energy sources

would be in the interests of both countries,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States creates an International

Energy Advisory Board consisting of members from Israel and the

United States, and

Be it Further Resolved: That the board will work in cooperation to improve and

develop renewable and alternative energy sources in order to reduce

dependence on foreign oil and OPEC and shall be given a grant of no

more than $20,000,000 to carry out this starting in the fiscal year of

2009.


Gwynedd Mercy Academy



A Resolution Urging the U.S. to Withdraw All Foreign Aid to Israel

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Whereas: The U.S has been funding Israel since 1949 and has given Israel

billions of dollars in aid, and

Whereas: This has cost the American tax payers billions of dollars, and

Whereas: Israel is a country with a leading economy and this money should go

to where it is really needed, and

Whereas: The current actions of Israel towards Palestine are disproportionate,

and American funding supports this disproportionate response,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the U.S. should cut all aid to Israel.


Hun School of Princeton



A Resolution Concerning Iran

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Whereas: Thirty years of economic sanctions against Iran have proven

ineffective, and

Whereas: Antagonizing Iran only allows its leaders to scapegoat the United

States for their own failings, and

Whereas: Democratic movements within Iran have been stymied by anti-

American sentiment resulting from this antagonism,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States should restore diplomatic

relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and end all trade sanctions,

except those on weapons and nuclear technology.


Hun School of Princeton



A Resolution to Concerning the Health and Safety of America

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Whereas: A law was recently passed in Japan that men with a waistline of over

33.5 inches or women with a waistline over 35.4 inches who have a

weight related ailment and have not lost weight in a three month

period will be given dieting guidance, and

Whereas: Japan also placed financial penalties on companies with workers that

do not meet these requirements, and

Whereas: In 2007, before the previously stated law was passed in Japan,

22.6% of Japanese adults had a BMI of 25 or greater, compared to

the US’s 74.1%, and

Whereas: The average waist-size for Caucasian American men was, in a survey,

39 inches, and

Whereas: Anyone with a waist-size of 40 inches or over is at greater risk for

diabetes and other weight-related illnesses,

Therefore be it Resolved: That Congress follow the example made by Japan

and consider financially penalizing those over a waistline limit or BMI

decided by our government.


Jenkintown High School



A Resolution to Save Women and Children in Africa

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Whereas: Maternal mortality accounts for approximately 515,000 deaths of

women in Africa each year, and

Whereas: It is estimated that there will be 2.5 million maternal deaths, 2.5

million child deaths and 49 million maternal disabilities in the region

over the next 10 years, and

Whereas: Experts on reproductive health have painted a grim picture of

maternal and child health in the region and warned that the situation

could worsen if no immediate actions are taken, and

Whereas: U.S. global health policy is marked by the neglect of maternal health,

child health and family planning, and

Whereas: Interventions that make up the package supplied through a health

centre intrapartum-care strategy have been assessed with robust

experimental designs, and are widely regarded as being effective to

“prevent a large proportion of obstetric deaths” and bring maternal

mortality below 200 per 100,000 live births,

Therefore be it Resolved: That Congress allocate all necessary support to all

relevant U.S.-relief agencies in order to establish in sub-Saharan

Africa a continuum of facility based prenatal, intrapartum,

postpartum, and emergency obstetric care.


LaSalle College High School



A Resolution to Revitalize America’s Bridges

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Whereas: Bridges are typically built to last 50 years and the average age of

bridges in America is 43 with 20% over the age of 50, and

Whereas: Only 12% of the bridges in the country with structural deficiencies

have been repaired and only 24% have received minor maintenance,

and

Whereas: 64% of America’s bridges receive no repairs or maintenance, and

Whereas: In 33 states there has been no money allotted to the repairing of

bridges, and

Whereas: The 17 states that have allotted money for bridge repairs have

designated only $13.7 billion of an estimated $140 billion needed,

Therefore be it Resolved: That Congress form a Bridge Renewal Commission

under the US Department of Transportation to oversee the repairs of

our nation’s bridges with a budget of $127 billion.


LaSalle College High School



A Resolution to finish the Israeli-Hamas conflict

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Whereas: Hamas has repeatedly sabotaged peace talks between the Arab state

of Gaza and the West Bank and the Jewish State of Israel, and

Whereas: Since December 27, over 500 rockets and mortars have landed in

Israel, and

Whereas: Israel claims its assault on Gaza is aimed only at ending the

“intolerable” rocket attacks on its territory, and

Whereas: Repeated ceasefires have been broken by Hamas via weapons

smuggling from Egypt and rocket attacks on Israeli cities, and

Whereas: Hamas has stated its intent to destroy Israel, and

Whereas: The destruction of Hamas would indicate no tolerance for terrorism,

Therefore be it Resolved: That more funding be given to Israel to aid the fight

against Hamas.


Loyola Blakefield High School



A Bill to Remove Funding to the United Nations

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Section I: All funding to the United Nations shall be diverted to the Department

of State.

Section II: Funding is defined as any monetary, military, or health related aid.

The United Nations is defined as the United Nations organization and

its corresponding programs, including but not limited to UNICEF, the

Human Rights Council, the UN Secretariat. The Department of State

includes all agencies reporting to the Department of State.

Section III: The department of the Treasury will oversee this operation.

Section IV: This bill shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

Section V: All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and

void.


Loyola Blakefield High School



A Bill to Control Illegal Immigration

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Section I: The United States Congress shall appoint a council named the

“Council of North American Economic Cooperation” that shall consist

of political and economic specialists to be appointed by Congress.

Section II: The council shall answer to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

twice a year on its progress.

Section III: The purpose of the council shall be to bring more political and

economic cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and its

main objective shall be to reduce illegal immigration through

economic and political aid with aims to increase the Mexican economy.

Section IV: Money to be used by the council shall be appropriated by the United

States Congress.


Monsignor Farrell High School



A Resolution to Reform the Iraqi Justice System

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Whereas: The current corrections/justice system in Iraq does not effectively or

fairly administer justice, and

Whereas: The human rights of most detainees as enumerated in the United

Nations Declaration of Human Rights are being violated, and

Whereas: Certain suspects are being held indefinitely with no formal charges

brought against them, and

Whereas: Certain suspects do not even get to meet with their defense attorneys

until minutes before their trial, and

Whereas: The limited technology used in the courts is antiquated, and

Whereas: There is a lack of adequate training for lawyers and judges in place

and a lack of security to protect them from the potential danger they

face,

Therefore be it Resolved: That funding be given towards additional security

measures, training schools for lawyers/judges, and improved

technology in Iraqi courts that reflect the standards and principles

applied to the American judicial system.


Monsignor Farrell High School



A Resolution to Increase America’s Job Claims

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Whereas: The number of Americans filing unemployment insurance claims are at

a twenty-six (26) year high, and

Whereas: The total number of jobs shed in 2008 is nearly 1.2 million and has

risen 6.5% from October-November 2008 and as of December 6,

jobless claims reached 573,000 from an upwardly revised figure of

515,000 in the previous week, and

Whereas: The elevated rate of jobless claims is likely to persist as employers

slash jobs and slow their hiring and the rate is expected to rise in

2009, and

Whereas: This is the fourth time since 1992 that initial jobless claims have

exceeded 500,000,

Therefore be it Resolved: That Congress lay off the working teenagers who

have a family to support them and hire the parents without jobs that

have a family to support.


Nazareth Academy (PA)



A Bill to Produce Cop Cars with Steel

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Section I: Many police have been either killed or injured in a car accident.

Section II: Police vehicles today are made out of the same plastic ordinary cars

are made of.

Section III: If we start making police vehicle out of steel, officers would be

much safer and not as many police would either be injured or killed.

A. Steel is much stronger than plastic, the car would not be seriously

damaged and the police in the car would not be seriously hurt or killed.

Section IV: This bill becomes law after one full year after passing.


void.


Nazareth Academy (PA)



A Resolution to Save the People of the Maldives

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Whereas: Because of rising sea levels caused by global warming, the 370,000

inhabitants of the Republic of the Maldives will be without a home by

2100,

Whereas: The United States contains vast areas of virtually unused land that

could serve a much better purpose,

Whereas: The United States drastically needs to improve its global image and

adapt to a new role in a new, competitive global environment,

Whereas: Aiding a people in need is justified by both the inherent ethics of the

situation and the resulting increase in soft power over the global

community, with little detriment to nation itself,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States offer to concede the Lake and

Peninsula Borough, Alaska to the people of the Maldives, and

Be it Further Resolved: That if approved by the current government of the

Maldives, the Lake and Peninsula Borough of Alaska shall henceforth

be conceded to the Republic of the Maldives, and shall fall under the

jurisdiction of only the government of the Maldives.


Pennsbury High School



A Resolution Urging Return to a Limited Federal Government

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Whereas: The United States has long been straying from the teachings of the

creators of our government, and

Whereas: Since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, there has been a radical

increase in the powers of the Federal Government, and

Whereas: The continuation of this policy will lead to the dissolution of our

democracy and possibly far worse consequences for our nation,

Therefore be it Resolved: That all bills, resolutions and actions furthering the

expansion of the Federal Government be voted down, vetoed or

discouraged, and

Be it Further Resolved: That Congress reduce the powers already exercised by

the Federal Government.


Pennsbury High School



A Resolution to Fund Research into Alternatives to Yucca Mountain

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Whereas: Nuclear energy production represents a tested stop-gap solution to

America's energy problems, and

Whereas: The United States nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain remains

unopened some 10 years after it was originally scheduled to open,

and

Whereas: Current estimates have Yucca Mountain opening sometime in the year

2020, and

Whereas: Viable options for the storage of nuclear waste at sites other than

Yucca Mountain do not currently exist, and

Whereas: Other nations have developed alternates to geological entombment for

their nuclear waste,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the Federal Government will begin funding

research into alternatives for Yucca Mountain.


Perkiomen Valley High School



Cargo Act of 2008

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Article I: The United States federal government hereby apportions $15 million as

funding for the design and implementation plans for the construction

of a Marine Cargo Terminal in Virginia and authorizes the creation of a

committee to determine further actions with regards to combating the

issues of maximum container capacity on the West and East Coast

terminals and taking advantage of the surplus of China imports and

exports.

Article II: A marine cargo terminal is a port/facility for receiving ships and

transferring cargo to and from them. The committee will determine

future projects that are to be necessary for allowing and increasing

the imports and exports with a specific focus on China. The committee

will also focus on efficient means of distribution throughout the United

States.

Article III: Implementation date is the next fiscal year.

Article IV: Overseen by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, for construction of the

committee, and the US Department of Commerce, for designating

usage of funding for terminal and contracting a design plan.

Article V: All laws conflicting with legislation are to be declared null and void.

Respectfully Submitted,

Princess Anne High School



A Bill to Initiate Pakistani Earthquake Relief to Stabilize Relations

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Article I: The United States Federal Government will hereby donate $21 million

in aid to be carefully administered by the Pakistan Red Crescent

Society for earthquake relief efforts to assist in recovery from past

earthquakes and to help prepare for the possibility of future

earthquakes.

Article II: Earthquake relief refers to clean water, blankets, clothing, tents,

medical aid, and related items for recovery and preparation efforts.

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society is defined as a humanitarian

organization of Pakistan that deals primarily with disaster

management and has been formally recognized by the International

Committee of the Red Cross.

Article III: The American Red Cross will oversee this bill in conjunction with the

International Committee of the Red Cross.

Article IV: This bill will be implemented immediately upon passage.

Article V: All other laws that are in conflict with this new policy shall hereby be

declared null and void.


Princess Anne High School



A Resolution Concerning Fire Department Equipment Upgrades

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Whereas: 35% of all fire department gear in the U. S. is over 20 years old, and

Whereas: Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) have increased by 15 % over the past

five years due to outdated or worn out equipment, and

Whereas: 26% more lives, both LODD and victims, will be saved with

modernized fire department equipment,

Therefore be it Resolved: That all fire departments throughout the United

States be required to upgrade all equipment, and

Be it Further Resolved: That the Department of Homeland Security create a

system of grants to assist fire departments throughout the country to

carry out this upgrade.


Southern Lehigh High School



A Resolution to Increase Humanitarian Aid in the Congo

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Whereas: A conflict in Congo has claimed the lives of many innocent Congolese

people, and

Whereas: The United States attempts to support regional efforts have proven

futile, as the conflict continues, and

Whereas: As the United Nations tries to quell this crisis by way of diplomatic

channels, there are still many Congolese people dying,

Therefore be it Resolved: That the United States Congress creates a

committee to determine the amount of funds needed for a

humanitarian intervention in Congo by supplying aid in the form of

both medical assistance and Infrastructure, and

Be it Further Resolved: That the United States does not cease in its efforts to

support regional programs, but simply to supply aid specifically to the

Congolese who suffer innocently.


Saint Joseph's Preparatory School



A Resolution to Redirect Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

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Whereas: China’s policies do not embody the principles of liberty and freedom

that the United States’ represents and holds dear, and

Whereas: China has consistently undermined the United States within the U.N.

Security Council using their veto power, and

Whereas: India is an emerging democracy within Asia, and

Whereas: It behooves the United States to have a strong alliance with

democratic powers in Asia,

Therefore be it Resolved: That all American Foreign Direct Investment

currently in the Chinese economy be transferred to India,

Be it Further Resolved: That all laws in conflict with this resolution be declared

null and void.


Saint Joseph's Preparatory School



A Resolution to Lower the Voting Age to Sixteen

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Whereas: Many teenagers have their own opinion on who should be elected

President or who should represent them in other elected offices, and

Whereas: These elected representatives will be the first officials that will affect

the underage voters’ through taxes and creation of laws, and

Whereas: Teenagers ages sixteen or older often have enough knowledge of

elected representatives to make an educated decision, and

Whereas: This past presidential election has sparked an interest in current

political issues, reaching record numbers of voter participation, and

Whereas: In the past twenty years, the average voting percentage for non-

locals election has been equal to or less than 50%, and

Whereas: In local elections fewer than 20% of the local population vote,

Therefore be it Resolved: That this Congress shall endorse the right to vote for

citizens the age of sixteen or older.


Harry S Truman High School



A Resolution Concerning ANWR

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Whereas: Foreign oil costs have reached a record high since the month of

November.

Whereas: America’s Foreign Oil bill has reached a total of 33.4 billion dollars

which has drastically increased our trade deficit.

Whereas: The price of foreign oil is also costing our citizens at the pump.

Whereas: ANWR (The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) has plenty of oil for us to

use and would benefit our economy greatly.

Therefore be it Resolved: That the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be opened for

drilling


Harry S Truman High School



A Bill to Reform Entitlement Programs

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Article I: The three major entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, and

Medicaid, will be eliminated. Social Security will be replaced by a

system of Individual Retirement Accounts, funded by a 6.2% tax on

taxable wages. Medicare and Medicaid will be replaced by Individual

Health Savings Accounts, funded by an additional 1.5% tax on taxable

wages. Citizens will be able to draw from these Accounts at age 75,

indexed to changes in life expectancy.

Article II: Taxable wages shall hereby be defined as all wages with the exception

of the following: Premium Conversion (Insurances), Flexible Spending

Accounts, Pre-Tax Parking, and Tax Deferred Annuities.

Article III: This legislation will be implemented by the June 31, 2009.

Article IV: The implementation of this bill will be overseen by the Department of

Health and Human Services.

Article V: All laws in conflict with this bill are hereby declared null and void.


Unionville High School



A Bill to Divert Biofuel Funding to Nuclear Energy Development Projects

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Section I: Seventy-five percent of all funding currently being used to research

Biofuel development will be diverted to the research and development

of Nuclear Energy.

Section II: The funding will be distributed equally among the following

categories: research, development, and infrastructure.

Section III: The Department of Energy will oversee the funding of this

legislation.

Section IV: This bill will take into effect immediately after passage.


void.


Unionville High School

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PENNSBURY FALCON INVITATIONAL

2009 Congress Super Session

Senate Majority Leader Pollack of Massachusetts and House Speaker Platz of Pennsylvania will invite a group of the top legislators to a special Joint Committee session on NATO’s role in the next decade. Several aspects of NATO strategy will be discussed, including (but not limited to) potential expansion, new initiatives, and cooperation with other multinational organizations. Due to the national security implications of these issues, the particular bills to be addressed will be announced during the Joint Session. Therefore, participants should come prepared to debate all aspects of NATO’s strategy.

Documents

PENNSBURY FALCON INVITATIONAL 2009 Congress Legislation ...tabroom-files.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/tourns/261/bills/… · Whereas: The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline has exported